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Page 104
copy. He should have known what Salisbury would say. Alinor was first puzzled and then felt an uneasy flicker of contempt at the dismay that showed on his countenance. It seemed that she had misjudged Ian after all. He was not prepared to withstand the king's wrath.
"There is no need to regard your offer to me as binding," she said icily. "We have sworn no oaths"
"For sweet Mary's sake, Alinor, I never said it! I swear," he interrupted passionately, "I swear on my soulon Simon's soulI never said a word about your lands. That was Salisbury's thought, not mine! I am no pauper. I have more than enough"
Alinor began to laugh. It was by the grace of God that she, who of all women might have expected to be married for her wealth, should be the wife of two men who were morbidly anxious to avoid any stain of greed. She put her hand on his arm.
"Ian, I never thought of that. I thought, since King John has gone so far, that it might be better to think again of my plan. Let him choose"
"No!"
They had been speaking quietly. Even Ian's anguished protest had been expressed in an undertone. His explosive bellow of negation, however, drew all eyes and silenced the eaters in the hall. Alinor patted his hand. The confident, intimate gesture reassured the startled servants. Whatever had disturbed the lord was nothing to do with the lady.
"You do not know the men Salisbury named," Ian continued in a lower voice. "I would not even dignify them with the name of beast. It would be an offense to the filthiest animal to be compared with Cantelu and Cornhill."
"Yes, of course. I guessed that. The whole letter is a warning, although he has written so cleverly that if it were taken and read, none could accuse him of more than a friendly hint to someone he owes a favor. His

 
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